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College Apps Cheating Scandal Is A Learning Moment For China

“Why do students cheat on U.S. college applications?” asks a Western teacher in China.

“Competition is too crazy. Tremendous pressure from parents. An agent [hired by parents] wrote essays and [hired another student to] take the SAT for me,” the outspoken local Chinese student replies.

“Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”

“Not easy to get caught. U.S. universities so far away. Everyone cheats. But students don’t cheat on the Gao Kao [China’s higher-ed entrance exam]. If caught, very severe penalties; future gone.”

This dialogue reveals an unfortunately common attitude in China regarding US college admissions. Cheating on college apps is a complex problem confronting the US and other parts of the world. Although cheating seems rampant, especially in the East, the situation represents a wonderful growth opportunity for business and humanity globally. By improving value systems globally, we can tackle the root causes of cheating and restore integrity to the US college applications system.

A research report in 2010 by Zinch China, an online social networking and research business that matches Chinese students with colleges and scholarships, reveals pervasive cheating on US college apps in China, driven in part by hyper-competitive parents and aggressive agents. 90% of recommendation letters are fake; 70% of essays are not written by the applicant; and 50% of high school transcripts are falsified. Chinese applicants typically cheat in five major categories: recommendation letters, essays, high school transcripts, financial aid applications, and awards.

People have asked me recently about who specifically are the bad actors. As an immigrant Chinese American, I empathize with both the East and the West. Although ethical actors exist on both sides, the college app cheating ecosystem includes the following actors:

Extremely competitive, eager parents who were raised and worked in eras when protecting or enhancing their positions in “guanxi” networks (local Chinese-style relationships) and cutting corners was commonly acceptable. Doing anything for their single child’s future and not losing face are motivating forces. An American education, especially a degree from an elite US university, boosts parental social standing and strengthens children’s career prospects.

Overly aggressive “recruiting” agents. According to a Zinch China report, about 80 percent of Chinese students applying to US colleges and universities use agents. There are ethical, effective consultancies and agents that take a higher road, but unethical agents abound. The latter ghost-write essays, fill out applications, and falsify transcripts or recommendations. They may work with local high school officials to keep clients happy and revenues flowing.Some of these agents often misrepresent or hide their affiliations with client US colleges and universities. These agents not only receive payments from their client parents, but some also get a portion from any scholarships awarded to their client students as well as commissions from lower-tier US colleges/universities for successful recruits.

Stressed or helpless (and desperate) students who didn’t know better or were ill-prepared and didn’t or weren’t able to start early enough to pick up the right values, beliefs, skills (especially in self-reflective English essay writing, conversational English, and creative and lateral thinking), and worthwhile extracurriculars.

Primary to secondary school systems that need significant improvement. Legacy systems, including longstanding decision makers and key recommenders, can’t change overnight. Unfortunately, teachers remain underpaid and lack adequate training. Westerners in the know get goosebumps watching under-trained or untrained local Chinese teachers teaching kids English. Learning by rote memorization, endless test prep, and “no-talk-back-to-teachers-or-authorities” are still the norm. This has stifled creativity and institutionalized linear thinking. Students lack social skills and do not participate in meaningful extracurricular activities that are necessary for US college admissions.Chinese high schools rarely provide guidance counselors, let alone quality ones. This issue also means enormous opportunities for positive changes, which are slowly or spottily happening in Asia. For years to come, private education service firms and recruitment agents will continue to fill the gap for students and their parents eyeing overseas.

US universities and colleges that aren’t the super selective ones. These schools, which comprise the vast majority of the 4,000+ accredited colleges and universities in the US, compete (aggressively) to market themselves and recruit students for needed revenues. Many employ inadequate resources and methods for or simply set low standards in screening admissions. Understandably, these schools are businesses, and businesses need revenue. Some have turned a blind eye as it’s more important to boost revenue than to maintain integrity. A number of them use “recruiting agents” in China and other parts of the world.

The value systems in developing Asia, including China, are so different than America’s. The former is based largely on the high(er)-context relationships one creates and the benefits one can give or take from that relationship network structure. It takes longer to build good relationships. The western value system is based largely on low-context meritocracy. You can do business right away with a stranger you’ve just met at a bar last night.

Many Chinese don’t have any moral qualms about cheating, especially as long as it’s not within your close family and trusted friends within the guanxi networks. Many feel that the history of guanxi networks and even bribing often seen in the past three decades in China’s “economic growth miracle” mean that they at some points in their lives must cheat to succeed. Thus, many Chinese parents have simply been acting “normally,” ignoring or not even understanding that some actions might be unethical.

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Well, some US colleges and universities are applying technology to help solve part of the problem. For example: http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/02/13/change-office-of-undergraduate-admissions-uses-software-to-check-for-plagiarism/?utm_source=The+Stanford+Daily+e-mail+digest&utm_campaign=3b6509ecf6-The+Stanford+Daily+e-mail+digest&utm_medium=email.

As a private college counselor, I was not aware that this problem was as serious as it appears to be. I think most of us in the US who work with high school students helping them with college planning, do everything possible to ensure that the applications, essays, transcripts and recommendations are honest and a true representation of the student. Yet all of the US colleges are universities are seeking Chinese students who may be misrepresenting themselves. Meanwhile, the US students are being rejected by schools in favor of Chinese students. What gives?

Let them cheat all they want on there application, who cares but prior to acceptance they have to do a problem solving test, whereas it does not rely on one’s memory but rather there problem solving skills. A person can have the best memory in the world, however if they are not understanding what they have remembered then it is useless information. best regards, Dave H FREELANCE ENGINEER…